How to Dress for a Job Interview
You’re more than prepared. Your resume is top-notch and neatly organized. You’re qualified for the role, and even if you’re not, you can be convincing. You’ve read through some practice interview questions, and your mirror image hired you on the spot! All that’s left is to pick out an outfit to wear—which somehow, can be the hardest part.
In today’s age, between Zoom interviews and changing expectations of what business attire really should be, dressing for a job interview is tough to be prepared for! Read on for some tips on what makes a great impression.
dress code tips for different situations
Did your interview research include exploring the company culture? Do they host casual or fun Fridays at the workplace? Or, are they entirely remote and just wear t-shirts every day? Is it an incredibly formal, big law firm, wearing suits and ties every day? To get a better idea of the dress code prior to your first interview, try checking images on their website’s career section or their social media if they have one. Researching the dress code could be just as important as having the best answers to your interviewer’s questions.
in-person interviews
When dressing for an in-person interview, you want to prioritize the attire expectations and your own comfort equally. Start-ups and remote-first companies tend to have more relaxed expectations for their employees, but it’s still wise to dress business casual for the interview. Established companies still based out of offices may expect business formal attire.
If you’re interviewing for an upper-level position at any type of company, unless the culture is anti-formal wear, you should dress in business formal attire. You have the experience to manage your own team: dress the part. However, this doesn’t mean to be uncomfortable. If you aren’t someone who can confidently walk in high-heeled shoes, certainly do not wear them for a formal interview. There are tons of comfortable dress shoes out there that are still professional. If you’re uncomfortable in any way, you won’t be your best self in the interview.
screening or phone interviews
Most people don’t think to dress the part, as they won’t technically be “seen” by their interviewer. However, putting on business attire that you love and feel confident in can help get you into the right mindset for the interview. Whatever outfit you feel most powerful in is what you should wear for any phone screening.
web conferencing interviews
On a similar note, many interviews are via Zoom or another web conferencing platform. While you technically can wear whatever fashionable outfits or pajama pants you want, you should dress as you normally would for an in-person interview. Also, remember to think ahead about your background too!
why it matters
When interviewing for a job, the interviewer has a short window of time to spend with you to decide if you’ll fit in well with their company in the long term. This means they’re going to use every bit of information you provide them with—including your attire. Are you wearing head-to-toe neon pink interviewing at a company filled with older, conservatively-dressed people? You probably won’t get the job. While this is a more extreme example, it’s meant to illustrate that what you choose to wear is information that will be used for or against you when selecting the right candidate for the role.
In general, you want to wear comfortable clothing, look the part, and be yourself. If you love neon pink, consider adding it via a pair of simple earrings or a watch band. It’s okay to express some aspect of your personality through your clothes, but not so much that an interviewer won’t be sure if you’ll fit in or not. Adding color through accessories rather than clothes is a great compromise. And, remember, you’re going to ace this interview!
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.